Method of encasing driven piling



Dec. 3, 1946.

c. WEBER METHOD OF ENCASING DRIVEN FILING Filed June 7, 1945 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR OAIFL WEBER BY WV ATTORN EY Dec. 3, 1946. QWEBER METHOD OF ENCASING DRIVEN FILING Filed June '7, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR CARI. WEBER ATTO R N EY Patented Dec. 3, 1946 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF ENCASING DRIVEN PILING Carl Weber, NewYork, N. Y.

Application June 7, 1945, Serial No. 597,995

6 Claims.

This invention comprehends a method of encasing with concrete woodenpiles located under wharves, clocks, piers, bridges, trestles andsimilar maritime structures as protection against the ruinous attacks ofteredoes, limnoria, and other marine borers and to prevent decay fromdry-rot, fungus growths, termites and other wood destroying influences,and which also provides effective protection against damage to thepiling from abrasion caused by ice and floating debris while eliminatingor greatly reducing the fire hazard to which such maritime structuresare frequently exposed.

Concrete encasements are also employed for the reconditioning of woodenpiling that has become weakened or deteriorated bybore worms or otherdestructive elements or for restoring piling that has been ruptured byimpact or injured by fire or overloading and the same is also'used forincreasing the load carrying capacity of existing piling should it benecessaryto increase the load carryingcapacity thereof. Concreteencasements are also employed for the protection of steel piling toprevent deterioration by rust of sections that are exposed to alternatedry and wet conditions and to preserve piling placed in corrosive groundor contaminated Water.

Concrete encasemen'ts are frequently applied to the exposed tops ofwooden piling or to the upper portion of piling located within the tidalrange, between extreme low and high water mark where thedestructiveeffects of bore-worms, crustacean and fungus growth and deterioration byabrasive action are most prevalent. For the reason, however, that manyspecies of marine borers enter the piling at or slightly below the'mudline, it is the more usual practice to extend the concrete casing afew .feet below ground level especially if large and importantstructures requiring permanent safe protection areto be provided.

. It has been the practice to form concrete encasements about woodenpilin either before or after'the piling is driven-in place. The formermethod has beenemployed so as to prevent premature contact of .freshconcrete with sea or brackish water and because it has been foundpractically impossibleto'form'a comparatively thin shell of concretearound driven piling under water and below the low water linewithoutexposin the fresh concrete mixture to infiltration or admixturewith sea water which weakens the concrete and greatly reduces itsprotective quality. Afurther obstacleto the formation of concreteencasement about driven piling is that the reinforcement in the form ofwire meshor the like located within the narrow forms frequently preventsso lidification of the concrete by obstructing the downward flow of theconcrete mixture thus leav ing large unfilled hollow spaces therein.Such hollow spaces form honey-combed sections that cannot be detecteduntil the forms are removed and which must be repaired which iscost1y,'very casements about piling before the same is inserted a inplace. In carryingout this method a suitable wire mesh i fastened aroundthe piling and a concrete shell of the required thickness formed overthe wire mesh by means of a pneumatic cement or mortar'gun. While a moreperfect encasement maybe produced by this method, the Waste of themixture resulting from the use of the' pneumatic gun, theinconvenienceand costinvolved in this method are so great that the sameis only employed for exceptional conditions and requirements. Th 'use ofthe pneumatic gun in this method necessitates a rich "mixture of sand"and cement, thereby eliminating a more effective and economical cementmixture with coarse aggrogates. The use of the pneumatic gun alsorequires that the piling be disposed in a horizontal position for theapplication ofthe concrete; encasement thereto which necessitatesextensive space for the work and for storage and curing of theencasedpiling. Furthermore piles so encased are heavy and cumbersome andnecessitate the use of heavy equipment for handling and transporting thesame. The handling and driving of such encased piling into placefrequently result in damaging the encasement although-the same has beenallowed to become cured and hardened which is not always possible wherecramped working space and limited time prevent proper aging thereof.This method also entails the en'casing 'of a longer portion of thepiling than is usually necessary since the correct length of penetrationof the piling cannot always be predetermined.

Inorder to overcome the aforesaid disadvantages in and objections to theuse of the aforesaid methods, the present'invention comprehends. animproved method of encasing with concrete wooden piling .or the like atanytime after the same has been driven in place to the required depth.This method embodies the enclosing of the portion of the piling aboutwhich the encasement is to be formed with an air-tight and watertightsectional casing which is spaced from the piling to provide an annularcavity for receiving the concrete mixture for producing the encasementof the desired thickness.

The method contemplates the assembly of the sections of the casing aboutthe pilingabove the waterline and the step by step lowering thereof intoposition as each section is assembled and connected to its adjacentupper section respectively. The method also includes the steps ofsubjecting the casing to air pressure to expel the water accumulatingtherein and thereafter forcing the concrete mixture in plastic conditioninto the casing at the bottom thereof with suflicient fluid pressure tocause it to rise within and to and protection of the concrete within thecasing until the concrete has sufliciently hardened so as to safelypermit the removal of the temporary casing forms. V

With'the foregoing and other objects in view reference is. now made tothe following specification and accompanying drawings in which isillustrated the preferred forms of the casing for carrying out themethod embodying the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a'verticalsectionalview of a casing employed in carrying outthe method embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof with parts broken away and the pileshown in section.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on line. 3-3 of-Fig. l.

f Fig. 4 is a typical horizontal sectional view through a portion of theintermediate sections illustrating one of the clamping devices inposition on thevertical flanges.

Fig.5 is'a view inv elevation of said clamping device, I

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating a pre-castconcrete bottom section employed in carrying out the method when thepiling is to be encased below the mud-line.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view on line L-l of view 6.

The casing employed in carrying out the method consists of a bottomsection A, a top section B and a plurality of intermediate sections Cand D which are of tubular-formation and adapted'to be disposed insurrounding spaced relation with a driven or standing pile E and secured together in end to end relation so as to provide an annular cavity9 between the pile and the casing for receiving a concrete mixture whichis forced into the bottom thereof to thereby produce a concreteencasement surrounding the pile throughout the desired length thereof. Ir

The bottom section A consists of oppositely disposed mating members Inand l l of semi-circular formation in cross-section which are formedwith peripheral flanges l2 and I3 at the upper and lower endsrespectively and with longitudinally extending radially projectingflanges 14' at the opposite vertical edges thereof, the said flanges l4being formed with openings therethrough adapted to receive bolts forsecurlngthe said 4 mating members together in annular formation. A valvel of any commercial construction is secured in an opening in the memberID for ejecting by air pressure the water which accumulates in thecasing during the assembly thereof. The said valve is adapted to permitof the passage of water from the casing and the same is of a type whichautomatically closes when the air pressure is released to prevent there-entry of water into the casing through the valve. The member I0 isalso formed with an opening in which'is thread- Y edly engaged the lowerend of a pipeline l6 ex- (ill plate .cavity 9.

tending upwardly therefrom and connected with a concrete injector orpump (not shown) for forcing the concrete mixture through said pipelineintothe casing.

The bottom section A also includes an annular ll consisting of abuttingsemi-circular members which are secured against the underside of themating members It) and II by bolts l8 extending through the peripheralflanges l3 thereof. The inner periphery of the plate I1 is spaced fromthe pile when the, bottom section A is disposed in surrounding relationtherewith and in order to form a water-tight jointbetween the plate andthe pile a plurality of arcuate flaps l9 fashioned from canvasimpregnated with rubber are arranged within the section A with the outeredges of the flaps secured to the inner edge portion of the plate l'landwith the inner edge portions of said flaps bent upwardly and impingedagainst the pile. g g

The top or uppermost section B similarly consists of oppositely disposedmatingmembers 20 and 2| of semi-circular formationin cross-section whichare formed with peripheral flanges 22 and 23 at. the upper and lowerends thereof respectively and with longitudinally extending radiallyprojecting flanges 24 at the opposite vertical edges of said members,the'said flanges 24 being formed with openings therethrough adapted toreceive bolts for securing said semi-cylindrical members together inannular relation. The said section also includes an annular plate 26consisting of abutting semi-circular members which aresecured uponthe-upper surface thereof by bolts 21 extending through the peripheralflanges 22 and superimposed upon said annular plate are abuttingsemi-annular members 28 secured thereto by said bolts 21. The saidmembers 28 are rabbeted about their inner periphery to provide anannular recess 30 with said annular plate 26 in which is clamped theouter edge of an elastic annular collar 3| having its inner portioncurved upwardly and secured about the pile so as to close the spacebetween the inner periphery'of the annular plate and the pile; Thesemicircular member 20.is provided with a cock valve- 32 for dischargingthe impurities that may be forced to the top of the concrete mixture in.the The said member 20 is also provided with a pipe 33 secured in anopening therein and connected to an air pressure pipe 34 in'which iszontalfianges of the lower bars 4! of the adjacent upper section, theupper horizontal flanges'of the bars 410 of the uppermost section -Cbeing bolted to the horizontal flanges of the top section B.

The members 38 and 39 are releasably secured together in assembledannular formation by means of clamping devices 44 which are spacedlongitudinally along the angle bars 42 and which consist of a lever 45pivoted intermediate its length to a bracket 46'having an enlarged outerpositely disposed mating members 49 and 50 of.

semi-circular formation in cross-section which are fashioned from sheetsteel and have angle bars 52 and 53 secured thereto at the upper andlower ends thereof and longitudinally extending angle bars 54 securedthereto along the opposite I vertical edges thereof. Any desired numberof said intermediate sections may be employed in the casing inaccordance with the length of the pile to be encased. The sections arearranged with the horizontal flanges of the upper bars 52 u secured tothe horizontal flanges of the lower angle bars 53 of the adjacent lowersection by bolts 55. The horizontal flanges of the upper angle bars 52of the uppermost section D is socured by the bolts 55 to the horizontalflanges of the lower angle bars 4| of the lowermost intermediate sectionC. The members 49 and 50 are similarly releasably coupled together inassembled annular formation by means of the clamping devices 44 engagingat longitudinally spaced intervals over the adjacent vertical angle bars54 as described in connection with the intermediate sections C. Chains56 are connected to the outer ends of adjacent levers 45 whereby thelevers may be swung on their pivotal connections with I the brackets 46by an upward pull on the chains so as to release the clamping devices 44from engagement with the vertical angle bars of the intermediatesections C and D to thereby disconnect the oppositely disposed members38 and 39 of the intermediate sections C and the oppositely disposedmembers 49 and 50 of the intermediate sections D.

In practicing the method the pile which isdisposed in standing positionis first cleaned if necessary. The members I0 and H of the bottomsection A are assembled in surrounding relation with the pile whichmembers are supported by means of ropes or chains above the level of thewater While the same are being secured together. The members 49 and 50of an intermediate section D are then secured in assembled relationabout the pile and fastened to the bottom section A which is thenlowered and additional intermediate sections D and. C are assembled insur rounding relation with the pile and secured in end to end relationwith adjacent sections. When the required number of said intermediatesections are arranged in position depending upon the length of the pileto be encased the top section .A is. secured in position upon theuppermost .intermediate section C .thus completing the casing. The steelreinforcement, indicated :by the reference character 58 such as wiremesh, .expanded metal, steel bars or the like is inserted into thecasing and secured in position therein as'the sectionsare assembled.

The pipeline 16 is connected with th lower section A durin the assembly:thereof and when the casing is completely assembled and is in thedesired position longitudinal of the pile the pipeline I6 is connectedwith a concrete injector or pump (not shown) for forcing the concreteinto the casing. When the top section B is in position the piping 33together with the valves 35 and 3;! and gauge 36 are connected theretoand to the pipeline 3d leading to a-source of air pressure (not shown).

As the sections of the casing are lowered into position the same becomefilled with water which is discharged after the casing is completed bymeans of air pressure forced into the casing through the pipeline 34 'soas to expel the water through the valve 15. The concrete mixture is thenforced into the bottom of the casing through the pipeline it which iscontinued until the cavity 9 surrounding the pile is filled'while theexhaust valve 31 may be manipulated to maintain pressure upon the top ofthe concrete as the same rises in the casing to thereby 'compress andcompact the concrete about the piling. Any impurities that may befloating on top of the concrete in the casing are discharged bymanipulating th valve 32.

The sections A, B, C and D of the casingzare secured together o as torender the casing liquid and air-tight and for this purpose gaskets areinterposed between the mating horizontal and vertical flanges thereof.This construction prevents the entrance of water into the casing whichwould dilute and weaken the concrete and also renders it possible tomaintain the desired pressure within the casing during the forcing ofthe concrete mixture therein. The valve 35 is closed during the fillingof the casing with the concrete material while the cock valve 32 and theexhaust valve 31 are regulated by hand to discharge impure or waterymaterial floating on top of the concrete mixture or to maintain anydesired pressure upon the top thereof. The concrete mixture beingsubjected to pressurefrom below forcing the same upward within thecasing to the top thereof compresses and compacts the concrete thereinand causes the same to extend into and fill all crevicesin the piling.The encasement thus formed about the piling is extremely dens andhard'and is tightly bonded to the piling. When the concrete issufliciently hardened the casing sections are removed for further use.

When it is necessary to provide a concrete encasement extending aboutthe piling into solid ground below the mud level, a concrete premoldedsection F illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7 of the drawings is providedwhich takes th place of the bottom section A of the casing previouslydescribed. The pare-molded section F is formed of oppositely disposedmating members BI and 52 of semi-circular formation in cross-section.The said mating members are formed with longitudinally extendingrabbeted vertical edges 53 at the opposite sides thereof which providevertically extending recesses at the juncture of the members whenarranged in mating relation which recesses are filled by quick hardeningcement and in which are embedded the projecting ends of, the--reinforcement 64 for securing the .said members together in assembledrelation about the piling.

'The section F is similarly provided with a valve for ejecting waterfrom the casing and secured to th lower reduced end thereof are arcuateflaps l9 having their upper ends disposed in surrounding relation withthe piling for closing the bottom of the casing.

The section F is secured to the adjacent upper section D by bolts 65extending through the horizontal flange of the angle bars 53 thereof Iand through angle bar 61 secured in surrounding relation with the upperend of said section F. A pipeline similar to the pipeline l6 extendsinto th "casing through the section F thereof and through which theconcrete mixture is forced into the casing.

When the pre-formed section F is employed, the same becomes an integralpart of the concrete encasement and remains in position in surroundingrelation with the portion of the piling located below the mud-line.

The concrete mixture employed in the formation of the encasement iscomposed of any desired proportions of cement, sand and agglomeratewhich are mixed into a plastic consistency so "as to provide a dense andhard concrete when solidified. r I

What is claimed is: 1. A method for producing concrete encasements aboutdriven piling subjected to the action of sea-water and the likeconsisting in completely enclosing a longitudinal portion of the pilingwith a liquid tight metallic casing compressed at its ends against thepiling and disposed between its ends in surrounding spaced relation tothe piling, forcing plastic concrete mixture into said casing at thebottom thereof and upwardly therein to fill the space between the pilingand the casing, maintaining pressure upon the top of the concretemixture as the same rises within the casing and removing the metalliccasing when the concrete hardens.

2. A method for producing concrete encasements about piling driven intowater-covered ground and projecting upwardly through the said casing atthe bottom thereof and upwardly therein to fill the space between thepiling and the casing, maintaining pressure upon the top er the concretemixture as the same rises within the casing, releasing the semi-circularcasing by upward pull on the clamping devices when the concrete hardensand removing the'ca'sing sections. 5 '3. A method for producing concreteencase ments about piling driven into water-covered ground andprojecting upwardly through the waterjconsisting in' assembling thesections of a water-tight casing about the piling in spaced relationthereto to completely enclose a longitudinal portion thereof above andbelow the water-line, lowering said sections into position as the sameare assembled and fastened to the adjacent section, forcing air intosaid casing to eject 'water therefrom, forcing plastic concrete mixtureinto said casing at the bottom thereof and upwardly therein to fill thespace between the piling and the, casing, and'removing the casing whenthe concrete hardens.

4. A method for producing concrete encasements about piling driven intoWater-covered ground and projecting upwardly through the waterconsisting in enclosing a longitudinal portion of the piling below themud-line with a sectional concrete casin portion disposed in spacedrelation with the piling, enclosing an upper longitudinal portion of thepiling with a metallic casing portion disposed in surrounding spacedrelation with the piling, fastening said concrete and metallic casingportions together, forcing plastic concrete mixture into said casing atthe bottom thereof and upwardly therein to fill the space between thepiling and the casing, maintaining pressure upon the top of the concretemixture as the same rises within the casing and removing the metallicportion of the casing when the concrete hardens. t

5. A method for producing concrete encasements about driven pilingsubjected to the action of sea water and the like consisting incompletely enclosing a longitudinal portion of the piling with a liquidtight metallic casing disposed in surrounding spaced relation to thepiling, forcing plastic concrete mixture into said casing at the bottomthereof and upwardly therein to fill the space between the piling andthe casing, and'removing the metallic casing when the concrete hardens.

6. A method for producing concrete encasements about piling driven intowater-covered ground and projecting upwardly through the waterconsisting in assembling a sectional metallic casing about the piling inspaced relation thereto above the water-line, securing saidsections'together by releasable clamps, lowering said sections intoposition as the same are assembled and fastened to adjacent sections,forcing air into said casing to eject water therefrom, forcing plasticconcrete mixture into said casing at the bottom thereof and upwardlytherein to fill the space between the piling and the casing, andreleasing the clamps and removing the casing when the concrete hardens.CARL WEBER.

